Muslims around the world will mark the start of Ramadan on Thursday, a month of intense prayer and dawn-to-dusk fasting.
Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to different countries declaring the start of Ramadan a day or two apart. However, this year in most coutries daily fasting would begin Thursday.
During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for the entire month. A single sip of water or a puff of a cigarette is considered enough to invalidate the fast.
The fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate. Muslims often give to charities during the month, and mosques and aid organizations organize free meals for the public every night.
Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan with a three-day holiday called Eid al-Fitr.
